On the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle, Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano has been cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.

Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that Liriano will make his first rehab start Monday at Triple-A and is scheduled for five innings and/or 85 pitches, which suggests the Pirates are planning to bring him back pretty quickly if things go well.

Liriano struggled before the injury, following up his Comeback Player of the Year-winning 2013 campaign by going 1-6 with a 4.60 ERA through 14 starts, but his strikeout rate is actually higher than last season’s mark.

The Pirates are 7-7 in games he’s started, and are 14-6 since he went on the DL. ERA is up a point and a half over last season, walks per nine innings is up by one. Not certain I’m sold on inserting him back in the lineup, to be honest with you. Maybe someone will want to trade for him.